NTIA launches Nightlife Matters campaign

Through a mix of club nights, talks and exhibitions, the year-long effort will "seek to celebrate UK nightlife and its cultural heritage."

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has launched a year-long campaign to celebrate and raise awareness about the current state of the UK's nightlife industry.

The campaign, called Nightlife Matters (#nightlifematters), breaks down its manifesto into three areas: Protect, Support, Celebrate. According to NTIA director Alan Miller, one of its main aims is to give "the silent majority the chance to have our voices heard," rallying support for the UK's nighttime economy via a mix of talks, exhibitions and club nights. A six-date party series has been planned across May, June and July, with venues like fabric in London (May 21st), Sub Club in Glasgow (May 22nd), Hidden in Manchester (June 11th, 12th) and Bristol's Lakota (May 28th, 29th) all onboard. Seth Troxler, Craig Richards and Kölsch are among the artists involved.

Pete Jordan, the director of MADE Festival in Birmingham, is one of a number of industry figures backing the campaign. "The UK has a nightlife and festival industry that is revered the world over," he says. "We are currently seeing more threats to venues and their licenses for a variety of reasons, that could in time, destroy the industry. Supporting the Nightlife Matters initiative from the NTIA is essential, and will help the industry safeguard itself from the real issues that exist and could change the cultural landscape of cities and towns forever."

Among those who have also pledged their support are: Carl Cox, Jackmaster, Defected, Joris Voorn, Bicep, Grade Management, Roni Size, Insanity Music Management, Eats Everything, Patrick Topping, B Traits and Graeme Park. You can sign up to the #nightlifematters manifesto here. The NTIA is also encouraging people to write directly to local councillors and MPs.

Alan Miller was one of a team of nightlife professionals who recently sat down with RA's Aaron Coultate to discuss the future of UK nightlife. Read that feature here.